The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released its 2024 Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) report, a strategic move aimed at aligning outdated telecom regulations with Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital and technological landscape.
The comprehensive evaluation covered key regulatory areas including licensing, SIM registration, subscriber management, spectrum trading, enforcement protocols, and infrastructure sharing.
Speaking at a hybrid stakeholder event, NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida described the RIA as a pivotal step in modernising the Commission’s rule-making process. He said the assessment was structured around three strategic pillars—consumer, market, and government—each reflecting the NCC’s regulatory focus.
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Maida highlighted the Commission’s commitment to improving user experience, stating that the consumer remains central to regulatory priorities. He also noted that the RIA was designed to assess how existing regulations affect operators in terms of competition, market entry, and resource efficiency, while ensuring alignment with national digital inclusion and innovation goals.
The report, according to Maida, is not only a review mechanism but a participatory tool. It invites feedback from across the telecoms ecosystem—operators, experts, civil society, and consumers—to refine future regulatory policies. As new technologies such as AI, 5G, and IoT reshape the sector, he emphasised the need for a responsive, transparent, and forward-looking regulatory framework that fosters growth and sustainability.
The review process also aims to ensure that regulatory instruments remain agile and supportive of national development, innovation, and investment. Stakeholder inputs gathered during the presentation are expected to shape forthcoming policy updates across eight critical subsidiary legislations.
Maida reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to a consumer-centric and innovation-driven telecom environment, stating that Nigeria’s regulatory success depends on continuous engagement, openness, and the willingness to adapt to technological change.
